Chance controlled electrical game



c. J. HAUMERsEN 2,766,988

CHANCE coNTRoLLED ELECTRICAL GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 16, 1956 Filed April 27. 1954 Oct. 16, 1956 c. J. HAUMERSEN 2,765,983

CHANGE coNTRoLLED ELECTRICAL GAME Filed April 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Shee't 2 CHANCE CONTRLLED ELECTRCAL GAME Charles J. Haumersen, Racine, Wis.

Application April 27, 1954, Serial No. 425,826`

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-1359 This invention relates to a game, and especially to a game utilizing electricity as the means to indicate the plays.

The purpose of this game is to provide a game of amusement that combines the element of uncertainty as well as that of observation.

An object of this invention is to provide a game embracing the element of chance.

Another object is to provide a game embracing the element of observation as a factor in winning the game.

Another object of this game is to employ electricity as the means of indicating the results of the various plays.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein `a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed, but includes all such variations and modiiications as fall within the spirit of the invention.

The physical details of the game will be iirst described and then the mode of playing the game will be explained.

Referring to the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the game in the process of being played.

Fig. 2 is a section taken at 2 2 of Fig. l, and slightly enlarged.

Fig. 3 is `a diagrammatic development showing the circuit.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawing, is a case of wood or other suitable material, and in this instance is square and of a suitable depth to accommodate the necessary equipment.

A playing panel 12 of non-conducting material forms the top of case 1t), and lits in a rabbeted portion as at 14, so that panel 12 is llush with the top edge of case 10. Panel 12 can be glued or otherwise secured to the rabbeted portion i4.

A plurality of radially-positioned holes 16 are provided in panel 12. In this instance there are sixteen radial rows of six holes each, having a total of ninety six holes.

Each corner of panel l2 is provided with a prod receptacle designated 1S, 2G, 22, and 24, `and which are of a conventional type.

Grouped about the center of panel 12, in this instance, are four signal lamp units 26, 2S, 30, and 32. These units are of the conventional type commercially available and are clearly shown in Figs. l and 2. In this instance, the signal lamp units have removable caps provided with the colored lenses usually furnished with these units. For the purpose of this game, the colors are Yellow, Blue, Green, and Red, also indicated as Y, B, G, and R in the drawings, and description.

Units 26, 28, 30, and 32 are identical, so the description thereof will be coniined to unit 26 shown in Figs. l and 2.

A bulb 34 of the conventional type is provided in the bayonet-slotted socket 36, and .a yoke 38 is provided States Patent 'I with means for threading it on the body 40, so as to securely assemble the lamp unit in a suitable hole in the panel 12. An insulating washer 42, and a button 44 cornpletes the signal lamp unit.

A sub-panel 46 of non-conducting material is fitted within the case 10 as shown in Fig. 2, and is positioned in contact with the underside of panel 12.

Prod receptacles 18, 20, 22, and 24 have bodies 48 as shown in Fig. 2, and which extend a suitable distance through sub-panel 46 so that a nut 50 can be threaded thereon, thus holding the sub-panel securely in place under panel 12.

Sub-panel 46 is provided with a plurality of contact members 52 aligned with each of holes 16 of panel 12. Contact members 52 are rivets, preferably of copper or any other suitable material, or any suitable means may be provided to establish an individual contact at the bottom of each hole 16. Contact members 52 are fitted in suitable holes in sub-panel 46 so that when the latter is assembled against the panel 12, there will be a contact member 52 forming the bottom of each hole.

The novel electrical circuit embraced in this game is partially shown in Fig. 2, and diagrammatically in Fig. 3. A source of current of llO to volts, in this instance, is supplied through wire S4 which passes through a bushing 56, which fits a hole 58 in case lll. lt is appreciated that dry batteries may be employed as the source of current, but such substitution would be Well known to those skilled in the art, and would not amount to invention.

In this instance it is necessary to employ a transformer 60 -in order to reduce the voltage to l() to 12 volts, which is a convenient one and suitable for use with the lamp units `and the buzzer. Transformer 60 is conveniently mounted in a suitable place in case 10. The buzzer 62 provides the audible signal means, in this instance and is mounted in the case 1li in `a suitable place.

Fig. 2 shows the circuit connected to the contact members 52, and represents a typical section through one of the sixteen radial groups of holes. There are six contacts in each of the radial groups making a total of ninety six contacts. For reasons which will appear later, each lamp unit is connected to nineteen contacts 52, at random as shown in Figs. l and 2. The arrangement of the various contacts, and their identiiication -is shown by reference characters Y, B, G, and R, which represent Yellow, Blue, Green and Red, respectively. Fig. 2 indicates the typical arrangement in a radial row in which two contacts are arranged to light the Yellow lamp unit 26. For the purpose of this description, unit 26 is provided with a Yellow lens. It is to be understood that there are other contacts 52 connected with unit 26, having a total of ninety-six as indicated in Fig. l. Fig. 2 shows a contact R Aconnected to the Red unit 32, and a contact G connected to the unit 30, the units 30 and 32 not being shown in Fig. 2. The circuit from the contacts identified as Y in Fig. 2 are connected to the shell 36 of unit 26.

Also provided at random are twenty contacts 52, designated A, two of which are shown in Fig. 2. Contacts A are connected to terminal 64 of buzzer 62, as are all contacts which are designated A.

Terminal 66 of transformer 60 is connected by a wire to a terminal 68 of prod receptacle 18 and al-so to similar terminals on prod receptacles 20, 22, and 24. Termin-al 70 is connected by a wire to terminal 72 of buzzer 62, and to contact button 44 of lamp unit 26, and also to the corresponding button of each of units 28, 3i), and 32.

Fig. 3 diagrammatically shows the circuit connecting the various contact members 52 to their respective lamp units, and to the audible signal buzzer 62.

It is clear that so far, the circuit is open and will not function, A prod '74 of a conventional type obtained Y serts. in the hole 16 where the indication was made.

commercially provides the means of closing the circuit. Prod 74 comprises a leng-th of wire 76 of a lengthrto permit reaching from the prod Vreceptacles to any one of the holes 16. A Vplug portion 78 is secured to wire'74V and is a friction Vit in the hole of each of` the prod receptacles 18, 20, 22, and 24. yThe opposite end of'wire 76 is provided'with a prod 39 sufliciently Small `to enter holes .to freely vand to make contact withV contacts 52.

Prod di? is secured in electrical contact with'wireV '76,4

and a handle $2 of ber or similar material is provided as a convenient means of holding Vthe prod while playing the game.

A prod 74A can be provided for each player, therefore, Y

one is insertedV in each. prod receptacle, iS, 20, 22, and

c 24 as a matter of convenience.

In order to prevent tampering with the equipment and the circuit in case 1G, a bottom panel 84 is rabbeted in placefas. shown in `Fig. 2, and fastened with screws or other suitable means.

The circuit as mentioned kabove is connected to the various contact members 52, at random. The random arrangement is intentionally void of any order and therefore the groups of contact members 52, forming each quarter'of panel 46, result in various arrangements. VThe random arrangement is shown in Fig. 1, where the holes 16 are identified oy letters Y, B, G, R, and A, which letters designa e the circuit to which the particular corn-v tact member 52 is connected. As shown in Figs. l and 3, all contacts lettered R are connected to lamp unit 32. All contacts lettered Y are connected to lamp unit 26. All contacts lettered B are connectedrto lamp unit 28. All contacts lettered G are connected tolamp unit 30;

c and all contacts lettered A are connected to the buzzer From the above description, and the drawings, it will Y' be clear that if plug portion 78 of prod 74 is connected,

for instancejn prod receptacle l, and prodY 89 is inserted at randomY in a hole 16, as indicated in Fig. 3,` the circuit will beY closed, either a lamp will light or Y the buzzer 62 will be actuated.

A group of holes 86 is provided adjacent each prod .receptacie in this instance twelve holes are a suiicient number to make the gameinteresting. Y Y

Aplurnlity of play indicato-rs S8 havingV dowel portions 'Y 9. fitting holes 86, are provided, one for each hole S6, or twelve indicators adjacent each prod receptacle 18,

indicators 8S are in groups of differentV 20,;22, and 24.V colors to agree with the colors of the lampi-'unit lenses.

This game is designed to be played withfour players, each player having a station at a Vprod receptacle i8, 2t), 22, and 24. Each player chooses a .color to representhim, and places his play indicators 88, of his color, in holes Se adjacent his station. unit nearest to his station has Ya lens that corresponds to his color. Fig. l shows a Vgame'in the process of being played; six indicators having been placed in various holes When starting to play the game, a player inserts his Vprod 86 into a hole i6 at randomgtouching the contact Vmember 52 associated therewith, in a manner as shown,Y

in Fig. 2. The circuit connected to the particular contact touched will determine the lamp tojbe lit. lf the prod lights the lamp of the person playing Vat the'moment,

Normally, the lamp- 'Y canV continue lso as to determined which players finishV contact will light the desiredV lamp, or actuate the buzzer.V However, it is possible, by observing the plays of the other players, to gain an advantage over them by exercising the ability to observe which colors appear when they touch the various contacts. In this way, a careful observer can know beforehand which holes light his lamp, or which hole contacts the buzzer. in this way a player can avoid contacting the buzzer, thereby prolonging his turn, and thereby prevail over his opponents, who may be less observant, Y

lf it should happen that some players establish a pat` tern of play by memorizing the various holes, it is merely necessary to Vunscrew the colored capsV of the lamp units and interchange them, one for the other. In this way a new arrangement will result.

Another variation in playing this game is possible. Y

This varia-tion is played with two players, each one choosing two colors as their playing colors. This variation requires more ,attention Vto the ability of observing the lights as they ash on. Y .Y

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as` positioned on said panel, a lamp ofrone color representing each station, a power supply comprising a. nrst and a second conductor, saidrtirst conductor connected to` eachofrsaid receptacles, a plurality Vof mutually-independent leads connected to said second conductor, each. Yone of said leads connected to one of said lamps and to a plurality of said contact means at random, an electrical connection between said second conductor'and one terminal of said audible signal means, an electricalcconneotion between the other terminal of said audible signal means to the remaining contact'mea'ns, and prod means i for Veach player, one end of each being connected Vto a prod receptacle, each player in turn inserting the'other endrof said prod in one of said perforations at random, Ythereby either actuating said audible signal means or energizing one of said lamps, and Vplay scoring means of the color representing each player, inserted in said perforations by him to indicate the color of the lamp corresponding .to his station if andfwhen it is energized Y whenv contacting a specilic contact means. c c

2. An electrical game having a plurality of playe said stations, a plurality Yof colored lamps positioned onV said'panel, one color for each station, a power supply Y comprising a iirst and a second conductor, said viirst conductor connected to said prods, aV plurality of mutual-VV ly-independent leads connected to' said second conductor',

each one of said leads connected to one of said lamps and to a plurality of said contact means at random, an electricalY connection from saidV second conductor to one terminal of Vsaid audible signal means, a connection fromV the other terminal of said audible signal'm'earns to the remaining contact means, said prod being inserted by earch player in turn in one of said perforations at randoin, thereby eitherV actuating said audible signal means or energizing one of said lamps, and scoring meanscrep- 'Y resenting his color being inserted in said perforations by each player 'if his lamp is energized Vby the insertion of said prod by him, thereby indicating thelocation ofthe perforationwhereby his lamp ywas energized, Y

3v An electrical galline/havingY a 'plurality .of player stations, comprising a panel of non-conducting material provided with a plurality of perforations, a contact means in alignment with eich of said perforations, an audible signal means, a prod receptacle at each of said stations, a plurality of colored lamps, a lamp of one color for each station, a power supply comprising a first and a second conductor, said first conductor connected to said receptacles, a plurality oi separate leads connected to said second conductor, each one of said leads connected to one of said lamps and to a plurality of said 10 contact means at random, a connection from said second conductor to one terminal of said audible signal means, a connection from the other terminal of said audible signal means to the remaining contact means, and prod means at each station one end of which being connected to each prod receptacle, the other end being inserted in one of said perforations at random by each player in turn, thereby either actuating said audible signal means or energizing one of said Lmps, and identifying means inserted in said perforations by each player to indicate the perforation associated with the Contact whereby his lamp was energized when said contact means was contacted by said prod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,018,409 Culp Feb. 27, 1912 1,647,276 Daman Nov. l, 1927 2,013,958 Hughes Sept. 10, 1935 15 2,606,029 Esch Aug. 5, 1952 

